In September 2023, the Mid‑South REACH award was made by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish a new Research, Evaluation, and Commercialization Hub (REACH) program across four states: Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and Mississippi.
Led by Vanderbilt University, Mid-South REACH is based on the best practices and experience of previous Hubs: ExCITE and KYNETIC programs. Lead institutions include Jackson State University (Mississippi), Vanderbilt University (Tennessee), University of Louisville (Kentucky), NS George Mason University (Virginia).
The project represents a significant expansion of the public‑private partnership‑based programs to bring discoveries and biomedical innovations to commercialization, particularly those related to public health disparities. Mid‑South REACH creates a robust, interstate innovation infrastructure that acts as a distribution strategy of information, awareness campaigns, and funding to the majority of research institutions and community colleges across all four states.
For more information about the MidSouth REACH Hub, go to midsouthreach.org